by Curlan Campbell
- Carriacou Carnival set for 11–17 February 2026
- Limited accommodation capacity and water supply are biggest hurdles
- Committee working with tourism officials to document private homes available for homestays
Preparations are “full steam ahead” for Carriacou Carnival 2026, set for 11–17 February. After a scaled-down version earlier this year due to the devastation of Hurricane Beryl, organisers have said that next year’s celebration will bring back the full scope of the island’s beloved festival.
“We want to bring back all aspects of the festival this year for next year,” said Anderson Matheson, cultural officer within the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs and lead coordinator of the Carriacou Carnival Committee. “The Queen show, Calypso, Soca, Groovy, Fancy Mas, Shakespeare Mas, Kiddies Carnival — all aspects of carnival will be back in full.”
Hurricane Beryl, which tore through the region last year, left lasting challenges. Matheson said the island’s limited accommodation capacity remains one of the biggest hurdles. “The major challenge was accommodation room stock, because we still haven’t gotten back to our full capacity,” Matheson explained. While hotels are rebuilding, many are only now reaching completion. By Christmas, he said, most should be ready to host visitors.
Water supply is another critical issue. Carriacou has no rivers or natural springs and depends on rainwater harvesting. “We haven’t had the amount of rainfall we had in the past,” Matheson noted, stressing how climate change has deepened the island’s vulnerability. “Even those who have roofs are still short of catching water.”
To bridge gaps, the committee is working with tourism officials to document private homes available for homestays, ensuring visitors have more options while supporting local families.
Despite the hardships, organisers are determined to uphold Carriacou’s cultural heritage. One priority is reviving the Shakespeare Mas, a centuries-old street performance where masqueraders duel with Shakespearean lines. Many senior players have stepped back, but Matheson said efforts are underway to train younger generations. “We started a programme of teaching the younger ones, and for the last carnival, we had about 20 young kids learning. We want to ensure this tradition continues for generations to come.”
Other traditional elements like the Vieux Corps, Shortknee, and Jab Jab will also return, alongside modern highlights such as the Soca Monarch competitions.
Carriacou Carnival has always been more than just a festival — it’s a time for community, commerce, and connection. Matheson emphasised that private promoters are welcome, provided their events work in harmony with the official calendar. “Every private promoter sees the opportunity to make a dollar. Once we work together with the committee so that the community and the island benefit, then we have no problem.”
Visitors can expect daily activities, from street parades to boat cruises, and fierce competition in music categories as local talent builds on recent successes of Mr Gold’n, who took home the Groovy Monarch Crown to Carriacou. “Our local producers are in the studio, and the quality of music being produced is second to none,” Matheson said.
Matheson confirmed interest is already building, with Grenadians, Vincentians, Union Island revellers, and members of the diaspora calling to confirm their participation. Regular contributors, like veteran masquerader Peter Bain, are expected to return.
For Matheson, Carriacou Carnival 2026 is about more than revelry. It’s about resilience, recovery, and cultural pride. “When you come to Carriacou Carnival, you get a historic, traditional carnival. It’s peaceful, it’s loving, and it’s unique. As we rebuild after Beryl, carnival is part of the healing.”
